It began in England driven mainly by the politician and sociologist Leonard Trelawny Hobhouse and theorized in his book Liberalism (1920).
Freedom, as perceived by new liberalism, entails the absence of coercion and constraints, with the State intervening only in cases where there are violations of the natural order of competition among individuals.
According to this perspective, freedom cannot exist without the assurance provided by the State, which represents society and plays a crucial role in fostering the expansion of individual personalities.
For instance, in a job contract, the employer holds a position of power over the worker, thereby exerting coercion.
Issues such as poverty and mass unemployment, which are viewed as social concerns rather than individual failings, necessitate state intervention to ensure workers' access to a decent standard of living.